Glossary

A

  • Appeal

    A request that a higher court review what happened in a lower court for legal error, not a retrial of the facts.

  • Appellate Brief

    The written document that carries an appeal, explaining the facts, the legal issues, and why the court should rule a particular way.

  • Appellate Practice

    The distinct legal specialty of handling appeals, recognized as its own board-certification field by the Florida Bar since 1994.

B

  • Board Certification

    The Florida Bar's formal recognition of a lawyer's specialized expertise in a particular practice area, including appellate practice since 1994.

C

  • Co-Counsel

    An additional lawyer or firm working alongside a case's existing counsel, rather than replacing them.

D

  • District Court of Appeal

    The intermediate appellate courts in Florida's state court system, sitting between trial courts and the Florida Supreme Court.

E

  • Embedded Appellate Counsel

    An appellate lawyer brought into a case before judgment, watching for preservation and appellate issues while trial counsel runs the litigation.

N

  • Notice of Appeal

    The filing that formally begins an appeal. In Florida, generally due within 30 days of a final order's rendition.

O

  • Oral Argument

    A hearing where lawyers present argument directly to the appellate court, when the court grants one.

P

  • Preservation of Error

    Properly raising an objection or argument at trial so an appellate court is actually allowed to review it later.

R

  • Record on Appeal

    Everything the appellate court is actually allowed to consider: transcripts, evidence, rulings, and filings from the trial court proceeding.

S

  • Standard of Review

    The legal test an appellate court applies when deciding how closely to scrutinize a lower court's ruling.